package msu.ml.data;

import msu.ml.core.*;

/**
 * The IDataLoader interface is used to load/parse an instances object
 * from a file. By using the isSupportedData(String) method, a set of
 * IDataLoader objects can be examined, looking for one with the ability
 * to load the file you are asking for.
 *
 * @author Reginald M Mead
 * @version 1.0
 */
public interface IDataLoader 
{

	/**
	 * Returns true if the data loader can load the specified file
	 * 
	 * @param target file to load
	 * @return true if the fiel is of a type that can be loaded
	 */
	public boolean isSupportedData(String target);

	/**
	 * Load the file and return an NxInstances representation of it.
	 * 
	 * @param target file to load
	 * @return the NxInstances loaded from file
	 */
	public NxInstances load(String target);

}
